Shruti Haasan wins legal battle against AI deepfakes,…

Actor Shruti Haasan has been granted an interim injunction by the Bombay High Court in a legal battle concerning the unauthorized use of her image and identity through artificial intelligence. The court recognized that the proliferation of manipulated media poses a significant threat to her reputation, business, and personal rights.

What happened

Shruti Haasan filed a lawsuit against several entities involved in the creation, hosting, and distribution of unauthorized materials, including deepfakes, morphed photographs, and superimposed videos. She sought an injunction to prevent the misuse of her persona for unauthorized endorsements and merchandise.

Justice Madhav Jamdar, presiding over the case, noted that the potential for such material to be shared globally without boundaries could cause irreparable harm that monetary compensation alone cannot address. The court found that Haasan established a strong prima facie case, emphasizing that the unauthorized use of her identity violates her personality, publicity, and privacy rights. These rights are further supported by constitutional protections under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21, which guarantee freedom of expression and the right to life, liberty, and dignity.

As a result of the ruling, the court ordered the removal of any content identified as fake by the actor. The court also highlighted that the continued circulation of these AI-generated materials poses a severe risk to her professional standing. Several respondents named in the suit failed to appear or provide a defense despite being granted the opportunity to do so. This legal action highlights the growing necessity for celebrities to seek digital protection against the risks posed by emerging generative AI technologies.